Panic Disorder or anxiety

I am currently 15 year old male. I had a quick question between distinguishing pretty much from panic disorder, anxiety and a phobia. In class 1 year ago I had a so called panic attack, about 10 minutes of constant fast heartbeat, followed by offcourse hyperventillation, then it somehow slowed down and then I was extremely shaky afterwards, and i felt like vomitting all day. Then around those days i had the exact same thing happen to me like 5 days later, offcourse i thought my heart was weak and i didnt know i was having panic attacks. Nowadays my heart really doesnt beat fast for like 10 minutes, it has never since the panic attack, but my question is do i have panic disorder or GAD. Like I really dont worry about panic attacks in fact I would rather have a panic attack every day then worry every day about die the whole time and worry about exercising. Like all i do is every class period worry about dying. Sometimes when i get a bit anxious my heart will beat fast for like 10 seconds and then automatically when all the stress is relieved, yes it releives my stress, I get back to normal. Like I am not sure i dont fear that having panic attack now, its more i guess anxiety. But how come it changed from panic disorder for like 2 weeks to anxiety. It is confusing to distinguish between the two. Like are panic attacks always comprised of rapid heart beat? Like i still get sweaty palms, weird symptoms, tingling in arms, all the panic disorder and anxiety symptoms but not really a punding heart.

[worried76374]

hi there

panic disorder is characterized by having one or more panic attacks within a 2 week period. it is further defined by a person worrying about when the next attack will happen. some people have what is called "agoraphobia" attached to their panic disorder. this means a person will avoid certain places out of fear they might have a panic attack, and have no "safe" spot to get to. places might include department stores, shopping malls, supermarkets, etc. it can also include driving, flying, etc.

generalized anxiety disorder is a pervasive abnormal sense of worry about most everyday things, which interferes with daily living. GAD can co-exist with panic disorder.

worrying about dying is a totally common fear during and after a panic attack. all the symptoms you describe are consistent with an episode; sweaty palms, rapid heartbeat, tingling, etc. panic attacks are bizarre and frustrating, and although it seems hard to believe, they can't kill you.

as a sufferer myself, i wish i could tell you to just ride them out, but it's incredibly difficult, particularly if they seem to come out of nowhere. i would talk to you doctor about getting some sedatives, like Ativan, to take the edge off. then you might consider talking to a therapist who specializes in anxiety issues.

most people who suffer from panic are highly intelligent with vivid imaginations; two key factors that help panic rear its ugly head!

good luck.

[KillaBeez]

    First let me say that I sympathize with what you are going through. I'm a 20 year old male going through pretty much the exact same thing. A daily worrying and constant feeling of being "off" is traditionally associated with anxiety, but episodes of panic attacks (or in other words those feelings of a heart rate spike, shortness of beath, adrenaline rush, muscles cramping, etc.) should generally be short lived. They are usually a few minutes up to (and I've personally experienced this) a couple of hours. These disorders can, and often do, go hand in hand. The main thing you need to focus on is getting help. A combination of medication and therapy is the best way to deal with mental issues such as this. The biggest hurdles you have to jump are admitting that you need, and asking for help. This took a long time for me and resulted in unnecessary depression and suffering. If you want to avoid pharmaceutical drugs, then I recommend seeing a therapist YESTERDAY... If you're not opposed to medication, look into it.
    Originally I was very skeptical of taking drugs to control myself, especially given my addictive nature, but the amount of relief the xanax provides in those dire situations far outweighs the negative side effects. Plus, once I saw the legitimate applications for the drug, I felt compelled to use it as directed and not indulge myself in my vices.
    To me it sounds like your first bout with panic attacks triggered an anxiety disorder. I would recommend seeing a doctor AND psychiatrist immediately to get a proper diagnosis, because no matter what the issue is, the right prescription can help you cope with your anxiety problems, but to achieve the ultimate goal of no medication and no anxiety, you have to get to the root of what's causing it.
   To that end, you absolutely need a mental health care professional. If you are completely honest with your therapist, they can do more good than any drug can. However, as a forewarning, therapy will most likely have to be a several month process. I tried therapy a few years ago for about 5/6 weeks and thought I could manage myself, only to have symptoms return just as bad as before.
    I guess my main point is that you need to seek help (and DON"T BE EMBARRASSED), recognize whether you are suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, or both, and then choose the appropriate avenue of treatment.
    As a side note I would like to point out the difference between SSRI's such as zoloft and paxil, versus benzo's suck as xanax and clonopin. The SSRI's will ideally have no side effects, but if you're on the wrong one (as my mom experienced) they can take your sense of humor and livelihood away. In other words just make you a dull lifeless person. However, The right SSRI for you could very well be the answer. The benzos should work amazingly for a shorter time and are usually prescribed for panic attacks versus chronic anxiety. Some doctors will prescribe one, some will prescribe the other. The key is finding what works best for you, but you won't know until you ask. So ask a professional. That's the best advice I can give you.

I hope I was helpful, and good luck.
My heart is with you bro.